The role of MicroRNAs in lung cancer development, progression, and metastasis

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally. Although molecularly targeted agents have made small advances in the treatment options for patients, the overall 5-year survival rate has changed little in the past several decades, necessitating a greater understanding of the biology driving tumor progression and metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a relatively recently discovered class of non-protein coding RNAs that modulate extremely important cellular functions via their post-Transcriptional regulation of mRNAs. Recent evidence from multiple tumor types and model systems implicates miRNA dysregulation as a common mechanism of tumorigenesis and progression. This represents a rapidly emerging and changing field with new biological connections and applications being reported each month, which provide unique insights into miRNA functions and potential new approaches for diagnosis and therapy.